Advocacy & Safety - People Passing into your Lane

Had something very disturbing happen to me riding this morning. I was approaching a curve that swung to my left on a county road (80 km/h speed limit with a white painted line 1.5 feet from the edge of the pavement), when a light pickup truck pulled out of the other lane to pass an RV and came right at me in my lane. I estimated by the time he came even with me he was exceeding 100 km/h. Needless to say, I wasn't especially pleased and I fear that my vocabulary did a rapid descent into the obscene. This is the first time this has happened to me in about a year. Last summer I was riding on another county road (a former provincial highway) in rural southern Ontario where this happened about every other day and really got on my nerves. It occurred once in another province as well where a driver wanted to pull out to overtake a slow moving dump truck and was visibly angry (complete with rude gestures) when I refused to pull off the highway to let him pass. This was a fairly narrow road with no shoulder, plenty of hills and a 70 km/h speed limit. To make matters worse, I was in the process of attacking a shallow climb on my decent road bike. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how to discourage drivers from doing this and perhaps offer some techniques to evade this situation when and if it does occur again.

Steely-eyed alpha dog glares and stick your arm out and give them a slow/stop signal.

Seriously, people doing unsafe passing is a problem bigger than the individual. You may be able to come up with some individualized actions or coping mechanisms, but they won't solve the bigger problem which is a general lack of common sense, safety and courtesy, and a lack of law enforcement or decent education and licensing standards.

I assume you are having people pass a slow moving vehicle in a no passing zone? If so good luck. I drive a red F350 Crewcab Dually...(not exactly a small, invisible vehicle) and have had to hit the ditch more than once to keep from being hit headon by an idiot passing in a no passing zone. Last one PO'ed me so bad I turned around and ran the vehicle down, by the time I caught up to them they were all scattered and running from the police, turns out it was a car full of illegals with bad plates.:rolleyes: I always try and ride with a momentary bail out plan in mind.

Aaron:)

This happens to more than just cyclists. I live in an area full of rural highways, and every few months we have a head-on accident (between cars) caused by an ill-timed passing maneuver. Nearly once a month, we have cars running off the road around corners from excess speed.

As a cyclist, I've had this happen once this year already. Luckly, the passing car scooched over (still in my lane, as he was still overtaking the other car) to avoid hitting me. Not pleasant. Only thing you can do is to stay vigilent and if it looks like the passer won't make it, take to the ditch. Anything is better than a head-on with a car going 80 mph.

The last time this happened to me (on the niagara parkway) the oncoming car in my lane ended up with blue Gatorade all over his windshield.

I'm not too proud of this reaction, but I was having a drink at the time... and he did make me get mud on my road bike.

Had something very disturbing happen to me riding this morning. I was approaching a curve that swung to my left on a county road (80 km/h speed limit with a white painted line 1.5 feet from the edge of the pavement), when a light pickup truck pulled out of the other lane to pass an RV and came right at me in my lane. I estimated by the time he came even with me he was exceeding 100 km/h. Needless to say, I wasn't especially pleased and I fear that my vocabulary did a rapid descent into the obscene. This is the first time this has happened to me in about a year. Last summer I was riding on another county road (a former provincial highway) in rural southern Ontario where this happened about every other day and really got on my nerves. It occurred once in another province as well where a driver wanted to pull out to overtake a slow moving dump truck and was visibly angry (complete with rude gestures) when I refused to pull off the highway to let him pass. This was a fairly narrow road with no shoulder, plenty of hills and a 70 km/h speed limit. To make matters worse, I was in the process of attacking a shallow climb on my decent road bike. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on how to discourage drivers from doing this and perhaps offer some techniques to evade this situation when and if it does occur again.

To put it politely, some people are just to effing stupid to be driving.

I had something similar happen last year, riding down a two lane (one lane each way) and there is a long lane of cars backed up going the other way (but my lane is clear). A genius at the end of the line decides that since he wants to turn into a parking lot 100 or so meters ahead, gets into my lane (going the wrong way) and floors it. I'm riding down my lane, look up and here is this idiot gunning towards me going close to 40MPH!:eek: I had to swerve to avoid a head on collision (as did the car behind me).

Use a high powered front light.

Al

i was riding in rural arizona last month and this happened quite often as well. slower moving autos such as RVs, trucks, etc. would prompt some very fast and unsafe passing from impatient drivers.

people may think riding in NYC is dangerous but i never have people driving directly toward me at 80-90mph or passing me at 75mph. rural riding is nice for scenary, but man, it's scary as hell sometimes.

i was riding in rural arizona last month and this happened quite often as well. slower moving autos such as RVs, trucks, etc. would prompt some very fast and unsafe passing from impatient drivers.

people may think riding in NYC is dangerous but i never have people driving directly toward me at 80-90mph or passing me at 75mph. rural riding is nice for scenary, but man, it's scary as hell sometimes.
But it was beautiful I hope. I really enjoy riding in rural AZ.

Al

But it was beautiful I hope. I really enjoy riding in rural AZ.

Al

i do too! except for those high speed encounters, of course. my folks live outside of benson in a little town called st. david. lots of sweeping vistas and hilly little roads. only problem is that 90% of them only go a couple of miles and then the pavement ends. a cross bike would be perfect down there. i only had the road bike so i had to turn around a lot.

noisebeam - any rain yet? i heard about 6 months of dry weather so far....

But it was beautiful I hope. I really enjoy riding in rural AZ.

Al

i do too! except for those high speed encounters, of course. my folks live outside of benson in a little town called st. david. lots of sweeping vistas and hilly little roads. only problem is that 90% of them only go a couple of miles and then the pavement ends. a cross bike would be perfect down there. i only had the road bike so i had to turn around a lot.

noisebeam - any rain yet? i heard about 6 months of dry weather so far....

i.... a cross bike would be perfect down there.
noisebeam - any rain yet? i heard about 6 months of dry weather so far....
Oct-18 '05 thru Mar-11 '06 were rain free (143 days).
Then we had ~1.5" total in March-April, but no rain since.
I love riding my cyclocross on rural dirt roads, still fast enough on the pavement, but no reason to stop when they turn to dirt.

Al